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Ready, Set, Run! makes running fun at Greenville (N.C.) Rec and Parks

View All News Stories Youngsters in Greenville (N.C.) played games with some new friends on the track last spring. They may not have realized it, but they were preparing to run a 5k. Ready, Set, Run! is a unique youth running program that prepares children ages 8-13 to complete a 5k in 12 weeks. While they build endurance and stamina through play-based activities, the children also go through character development curriculum that equips them with the goal-setting mentality that will stay with them throughout life. Other topics covered include enhancing confidence and self-esteem, respecting authority, dealing with peer pressure and fueling their bodies with proper nutrition. “Children need to have fun and be active,” said Sophie Duncan, recreation assistant at the Greenville Recreation and Parks Department. “By adding the games approach to the program, the children are able to do so without concentrating strictly on agility and endurance training.” For example, one of the games they played was Line Runs where the children jog in a line and the last runner in line has to run to the front of the line, passing alongside the group. One of the Greenville parents said, “My daughter liked all the games that were played. They made the program enjoyable, versus just running.” “The games and activities add an extreme value to the children’s experience with running in that they run around and don’t realize they are running,” said Duncan. “They just think they are playing.” Ready, Set, Run! didn’t only get the youngsters active –parents were inspired to get moving too. “One of the biggest things for me was seeing the children excited to come to the program every week and while they were participating in the program their parents weren’t sitting and watching, they were walking or running around the track,” Duncan said. “Ready, Set, Run! truly affects everyone involved and has a tremendous positive impact.” The culmination of the youngsters’ work was when they ran an entire 5k at the department’s annual Greenville Rec Run and Kids Dash. “As the Ready, Set, Run! program progressed we constantly reminded the parents and children of the goals of the program, especially completing a 5k,” explained Duncan. “We highly encouraged the parents to sign their children up for the race.” Eighteen children from the program signed up for the 5k and of those four of the children placed in their age groups on race day. Thirty-eight boys and girls signed up and completed the program from start to finish. According to Duncan the department will offer Ready, Set, Run! each fall and spring. “After hearing the positive feedback from the parents and instructors, and seeing all the children being active and having fun while running, we instantly knew we would offer Ready, Set, Run! again,” she said.